Parties, Platforms and Polls

Objective: Students will be able to define and understand election-related (jargon)words

  • Students can read electronic newspapers and blogs to find words

  • Students will create an election dictionary through the use of interactive videos

  • Students can create electronic games or play electronic Scrabble using jargon

  • Students create information pages for opposing local, state, and federal candidates. Students use the researched information to construct mystery candidate word searches.

  • Create campaign slogans using graphic design techniques.

  • Students can use electronic art to write Concrete Poetry using jargon


Ask a Candidate: Interview Skills

Objective: Students will be able to develop meaningful, open-ended questions for a political candidate (electronic Kid Reporters)

  • Pair students randomly for role-playing and debate around current issues. Students will ask candidates questions and candidates will answer (according to their views)

  • Create a weekly news update of current events related to the election.

  • Set up long-distance interview with real candidates

  • Students can create a classroom blog to discuss issues

  • Students create an electronic suggestion box. Suggestions are read and students randomly respond to the suggestions from the point of view of local, state, and federal candidates.

  • Students can email their questions to candidates


It’s About Time

Objective: Students will identify important events in a presidential election year, be able to read and interpret a time line

  • Use an ongoing electronic timeline to track major election events

  • Use an ongoing electronic timeline to compare news events to campaign events/candidate popularity

  • Manipulate the timeline and discuss what changes in events could mean to the campaign

  • Prioritize events of importance to campaigns and compare to the changes in voting polls


Whistle Stops

Objective: Students will be able to locate on a U.S. map the states and cities where campaign stops take place. Students will use scale of miles to measure distance

  • Use Scholastic News Online and other election websites for kids

  • Students will track and mark campaign stops for each candidate—look at campaign trail intersections? Blog about why candidates travel where they do by looking at who they speak to at particular locations.

  • Develop electronic scrapbooks for campaign stops

  • Find and interview students from “hot” spots


Is That a Fact?

Objective: Students will be able to separate fact from opinion.

  • Students will attach campaign commercials, ads, brochures to wiki and create center activities where their peers examine persuasive language and check the facts

  • Students read books about the electoral process and write book recommendations.

  • Students examine how technology is being used as a persuasive tool

  • How is music and YouTube being used as a persuasive tool?


The Right to Vote

Objective: Students will be able to discuss changes in voting rights throughout American history (rights and changes).

  • Research voting eligibility in Colorado

  • Students compose a voter’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.

  • Students develop a list of classroom web and information resources around current events and voting issues.

  • Create a service learning project to encourage voting for School Board or other school related issue

  • Students use the wiki to draft letters of support to their favorite candidates.